KINDNESS TO ANIMALS. (See page 108.)
A GATHERED ONE.
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF EMMA BEESLEY, OF LEICESTER, WHO DIED ON LORD'S DAY MORNING, JANUARY 1ST, 1888, AGED TWENTY-ONE YEARS.
Our earliest recollection of Emma was as a child in our Sunday School, which she was led, in a very marked way, to attend. Her sister was persuaded by a companion to go with her to our school just for one afternoon, and she was so interested that she became a regular scholar. Emma was at that time attending a school in connection with a General Baptist cause, but hearing her sister speak in such high terms of the school at Zion Chapel, she was soon persuaded to go with her. Like her sister, she felt so at home that she also became a scholar. They each became so very much attached to both school and chapel, that they had no desire whatever to leave it; and we have good reason to believe the Word was made a blessing, and that the seed of divine grace was sown in each of their hearts by God the Eternal Spirit.
Emma was of a very quiet turn of mind, and for the last two years was the subject of great soul-trouble. All who knew her could testify to the deep sense she had of her sinnership before God. Her great fear was, that she was too great a sinner for the Lord to look upon; but her whole desire was, to be found right with Him.
To a friend she said, "Oh, I should not mind waiting, if only I knew I should obtain the blessing; but I am so afraid I shall never have what I am seeking after."
Her love for the house of God was so great that no weather would prevent her from attending the means. Being of a delicate constitution, her mother often reproved her for going so much; but she could say, with the poet—
"I love to meet amongst them now,
Before Thy gracious feet to bow,
Though vilest of them all."